President Biden’s nominee to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) withdrew her name on Tuesday after two years of partisan stalemate delayed her confirmation, the White House confirmed.
“We appreciate the candidacy of Gigi Sohn for this important role. She would have brought tremendous talent, intelligence and experience, which is why the president appointed her in the first place,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a briefing. Press.
“We also appreciate his dedication to public service, his talent and his years of work as one of the nation’s leading public advocates on behalf of American consumers and competition,” she added.
Jean-Pierre declined to share updates on future nominees.
The Washington Post first reported that Sohn removed his name.
In a statement, Sohn said she asked Biden to withdraw his nomination after discussions with his family and “careful consideration.” She said the “relentless, dishonest and cruel attacks” on her character and career from cable lobbyists and the media “have had a huge impact on me and my family.”
“It is a sad day for our country and our democracy when mainstream industries, with the help of unlimited black money, can choose their regulators. And with the help of their friends in the Senate, the powerful cable companies and media did just that,” Sohn said.
Earlier Tuesday, Sen. Joe Manchin (DW.V.) said he wouldn’t support confirming Sohn, further complicating the chances of Democrats confirming Sohn given their narrow majority and the fierce GOP backlash against Sohn.
Sohn is an attorney with more than three decades of experience in technology privacy law and previously served as a key aide to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.
Democrats touted her experience and years of service, but Republicans accused her of being too left-leaning to take the agency job.
The delay in confirming a full FCC has left the agency unable to advance parts of the Democrats’ agenda, such as advancing action to reinstate Obama-era net neutrality laws.
Sohn said the “real losers” are the American people based on the FCC’s 2-2 stalemate that prevents the agency from advancing certain policies.
“As someone who has advocated my entire career for affordable and accessible broadband for every American, it is ironic that the FCC 2-2 is left out of the most important opportunity for broadband in our life,” Sohn said.
Alex Gangitano contributed. Updated at 2:31 p.m.